I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
Smedley ButlerWar is just a racket... I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.
Smedley ButlerOnly those who would be called upon to risk their lives for their country should have the privilege of voting to determine whether the nation should go to war.
Smedley ButlerI helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long... Looking back on it, I feel I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated on three continents.
Smedley Butler